First half impressions – 49ers lead 7-6 over Cardinals

COLIN KAEPERNICK: With a quarterback like Colin Kaepernick, you just hope his hot stretches out-pace his lulls. That’s what happened in the first half against the Cardinals. Kaepernick went 2 of 5 for 22 yards to start. Then he went on a stretch of completing 5 of his next 8 for 124 yards and touchdown. He can suddenly lurch into being an offensive Superman. Kaepernick’s luck has also continued. He threw two passes, both defended by cornerback Patrick Peterson, that could have been intercepted.

DEFENSE: The defense is still misfiring. It has allowed 50 yards on 12 carries to William Powell, a 5-9, 207-pound running back. Explaining it away by saying the 49ers miss Justin Smith is an easy and lazy justification. There is something else going on here, and I don’t what it is yet.

DAVID AKERS: Akers seems to be guiding the ball because it appears he warding against hooking his field goal attempts. It has resulted in two pushes to the right. In this game, he has missed on a 40- and 44-yarder and looks thoroughly frustrated and befuddled. That’s not a place you want your kicker to be right before the playoffs.